We’re a wasteful nation, with householders throwing away around 7 million tonnes of food and drink a year – that’s 5kg per household, every week. We always try to avoid unnecessary waste in the Good Food Test Kitchen and here’s how we go about it…
Stop wasting food
1. Protect your potatoes
2. Don’t buy bags of salad
These deteriorate very quickly once opened, so buy whole heads of lettuce instead; they’ll last much longer. If you want loose-leaf, opt for watercress, rocket & spinach medleys, which can be whizzed into pesto and frozen at the first sign of wilting.
3. Make dairy last longer
Make these fun frozen banana lollies with the kids.
4. Keep bread better
If your family rarely gets through a whole loaf of bread before it turns mouldy, stash half the loaf in the freezer, in two-slice portions, as soon as you buy it. Bread defrosts in minutes, or pop straight into the toaster if you have a defrost function. Alternatively, stale bread is great for breadcrumbs, bread & butter pudding or a panzanella salad.
5. Use up apples
Make this apple & blueberry bircher for a healthy breakfast.
Be a savvy shopper
6. Buy whole cuts of meat for sandwiches
You’ll spend way over the odds for packets of pre-sliced ham, chicken or beef. Instead, pick up a joint of gammon, silverside or rump of beef, a whole chicken or a turkey breast. Cook yourself, then slice and freeze in individual portions. Defrost the night before you make your sarnies.
7. Head to the market
8. Visit the bakery
Most supermarket bakeries bake fresh bread in-house every day. They often stock fresh wraps and naan bread, which – aside from tasting better than the long-life ones available with ready-made Mexican and Indian ingredients – are usually much cheaper. If you’re not going to use them all within a few days, stick leftovers in the freezer to have on standby for a curry or fajita night.
9. Don’t squander expensive oils
Get organised in your kitchen
10. Sort out your cupboards
A well-stocked storecupboard will help you to bulk out leftovers for quick weeknight suppers, and save you money. To prevent cans and jars at the back hanging around past their use-by date, stock like they do in the supermarket – bring the oldest items to the front and slip your new ones in the back. Save your best, more expensive oils for salad dressings and drizzling over finished dishes.
11. Empty your freezer
Don’t let your freezer become a graveyard of chicken bones and fish fingers. While most items will be safe to eat for a few months, it’s best to use up food while it’s as fresh as possible – or before you completely forget what that brown ice block in the sandwich bag is! Once a month, try to have a week of meals from the freezer to have a good clear-out.
Read our guide for top tips on freezing food.
12. Cut down on ready meals
These are usually expensive, often nutritionally unbalanced, and never as good as homemade. Instead of spending money on one of the most wasted foods in the UK, spend some time at the weekend making a batch of stew, chilli or curry. Freeze in individual portions, ready for when you need a speedy meal. Look out for the freezable symbols on our recipes.
Get ahead for the week with these freezable family recipes.
Read more helpful information on budgeting:
Budgeting hub page
Top 10 budget food buys
5 nights of waste-free family meals
5 nights of budget family suppers for £30
5 of the best budget superfoods
Budget recipes
|How to reduce food waste
How do you cut costs in the kitchen? We’d love to hear your ideas in the comments…